More Int'l News In Brief

Senator Chuck Schumer talks with New York National Guard members, in Orchard Park, New York. - AP

National Guard boosting NYC holiday security

NEW YORK (AP):

The New York National Guard says hundreds of the state's citizen soldiers are helping provide security during the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel period.

Officials at the National Guard's state headquarters outside Albany say more than 500 members of the military organisation's standing security force in New York City (NYC) are joining the NYPD, the Port Authority and other law-enforcement agencies in security efforts at train stations and airports in the metro area.

The Guardsmen are members of Joint Task Force Empire Shield, based at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. The force is comprised of members of New York's Army and Air National Guard.

New York has had National Guardsmen on duty full-time in New York City assisting other agencies with security since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Spanish premier: Corruption is exception, not rule

MADRID, Spain(AP):

Spain's prime minister, whose party is facing a series of corruption cases, says most politicians aren't crooked and that his government is taking the problem seriously.

Mariano Rajoy spoke yesterday. His health minister resigned Wednesday after a judge said she benefited financially from an alleged corruption scheme that ensnared her ex-husband.

The judge has named 43 people as suspects, including three former party treasurers, in the case involving alleged illegal financing of Rajoy's Popular Party.

Opinion polls indicate voter discontent over the numerous cases of corruption may seriously erode support for Spain's main parties in elections next year. Addressing parliament on a planned law to tackle corruption and illegal party financing, Rajoy admitted many of the cases affect his party and said he had apologised.